An iron giraffe, a gentleman wearing a black hat and a map of Mullae-dong made from various metals.
All welcome visitors to Mullae-dong as they walk along the street for a few minutes from exit No. 7 of Mullae Station, along line No. 2.

Iron panels and bars are spread inside ironworks lined up along the street. Workers are busy cutting and welding, despite the endless noise.

Hard to find at one glance, however, by looking around the surroundings closely, one can find its secrets, little by little: alleyways next to the ironworks, rooftops atop buildings, stairs connecting an upstairs, a downstairs and the walls.





The outer walls along the ironworks street are decorated with vivid colors, adding more life to the colorless metals. Though cold and hard, iron can become the material for beautiful sculptures of various animals and plants, creating harmony with other materials.




Mullae-dong in Yeongdeungpo-gu (district) is a heavily populated residential area in Seoul close to Sindorim and Yeongdeungpo Stations. The area is well-known for its iron foundries. Since the 1960s, when ironworks first began to operate, Mullae-dong contributed to the history of Korea’s industrial development, enjoying its peak sometime in the 1980s. As of today, about 1,700 ironworks and metalsmiths still produce core industrial parts and materials, playing an important role in the manufacturing sector.

However, when did the artists begin to move into the metal-working streets of Mullae-dong? Many workers in the metal shops and other local residents say the artists began to settle in the region in about 2000. They previously lived in other areas, like Hongdae, around Hongik University. When they faced rising rents, they had to find another place to live and Mullae-dong was their answer. Apart from the more affordable rents, artists were able to use the spacious buildings with their high ceilings as their workshops or studios. Their works of art invigorated the streets, with paintings on the outer walls and sculptures on the street, in manners splendid, elegant and hilarious.

The artistic atmosphere added more vibe to the ironworks street, creating a one-of-a-kind atmosphere in Seoul, which naturally developed into an art village. More galleries and studios are locating in Mullae-dong. Many of them open for exhibitions or performances. As knowledge of the street went viral, more and more people began to visit the area. Now, Mullae-dong has become one of the most popular areas for photographers. It is easy to find people visiting the place and carrying cameras to take pictures, even during weekdays.

Oh Youngho, a staff member at the Seoul Art Space Mullae (SASM), which is part of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, said, “Currently, about 350 or up to 400 artists are operating in Mullae-dong. Many of them have their own studios. Some of the studios are also used as practice rooms for performing theaters.”

The SASM supports artists in Mullae-dong. "The SASM has been carrying out various kinds of both direct and indirect support, which has benefited about 100 teams of artists in Mullae-dong. This area is not busy these days, as many of them are preparing for their next exhibition or performance. However, you can see more activity when spring arrives,” Oh added.




For more information about the ironworks street and the art village in Mullae-dong, please watch a video clip taken by Korea.net in Mullae-dong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QKdtQUCHzo

Article by Yoon Sojung Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Staff Writer, Seoul Art Space Mullae
arete@korea.kr